The annual bird census in the Chilika lake was carried out on Friday by the wildlife wing of the Forest Department and experts from different organisations. Every year, the Chilika Development Authority (CDA) and the wildlife wing of the Forest Department conduct this annual status survey of avian population in Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon.
As many as 75 experts from various institutions participated in the bird survey. Official sources said that 20 groups were deployed for counting in the lake, spread over 1,100 sqkm. The counting process ended by the evening and the result would be declared on Saturday, official sources said.
As many as 8.83 lakh birds of 167 species visited Chilika last year, while around 8.77 lakh birds of 180 species had visited the lake in 2013.
Normally, the 15.59 sq km Nalabana Island gets the highest number of winged guests in Chilika. A large number of migratory birds from far off places including Caspian Sea, Baikal lake, remote parts of Russia, central and south east Asia, ladakh and the Himalayas throng the lake every winter for feeding and roosting.
This year’s bird census has assumed high significance as Chilika is under threat from bird hunters, regular incidence of cyclonic storm and low pressure resulting in fall in mercury level in mid winter, sources said.